Arc 1: Welcome to Shibuya
4/11 Monday, Morning
…I have decided to keep you with your wits about, Emiya. I have seen that you have some forethought and creativity while in the Distorted Labyrinth…getting rid of your will would just make you be even more useless. Though…while you are a pain to work with, I prefer that over a useless asset. But, make no mistake boy…if you do something like that again—if you disobey me once more…my faction will be more than willing to carry out their promise. Don't spit in the face of those who have shown you kindness…
Shirou pursed his lips, his eye sagging with Forte's words echoing around him. His fingers clenched into a fist, nails digging into the flesh. He bared his teeth and narrowed his eyes into slits as he marched towards the school.
'It's the only way to protect them. ' He stopped, a metallic taste passed through his taste buds. He blinked and relaxed his clenched jaw. His eyes twitched as his teeth, grinders and gums ached. His tongue moved, rubbing the inside of his mouth and then stuck it out—he crossed his eyes down and saw blood coating the tongue. 'It was the only way…'
"Hey did you hear about that new transfer student?"
"I can't believe they would let some guy with a criminal record come in!"
The redhead eyes uncrossed as dozens of fellow students passed by him turning their heads towards him, pointing and muttering to each other. He turned away from them and let his eyes wander from where he heard the female voices. Walking passed him were two plain looking girls, hogged together with a single umbrella keeping them from getting wet.
"Huh—!?" He blinked, then flinched back. He tilted his head up and drops of rain hit his face, running through his skin. He moved his left arm up to protect himself from the rain. He stopped and noticed his soaking wet uniform. A soft "Damn" escape his wet lips, shaking his arms and letting the sponged up water splattered off his uniform. He shook his head, stopping from trying to dry himself and marched towards his destination. His eyes narrowed, his gaze wandering in the direction of the two plain looking girls. "A student with a criminal record…coming to our school…?"
He pursed his lips, then shrugged as he jogged towards the school.
A minute of jogging passed and his eyes wander towards Shujin Academy's building. He went up the steps and entered through the main entrance, shaking and wiping his wet uniform with his hands. He winced and let out a breath, the wet dark clothing clung to his skin and he squirmed. He scratched the back of his head, his gaze searching for a towel in the school's entrance. He shook his head as he just saw dozens of students filling the entrance. He walked out of the main entrance, heading to the school's gym for a towel.
Taking long strides, he turned the corner—"Whoa!" The redhead collided with someone else and his vision went black. Blinking, he took a step back with wide eyes and hands up in front to keep some distance. A girl with dark hair met his gaze, taking a step back as well. Shirou focused his gaze to the girl's dark brown eyes, and then he stopped. He blinked as he saw the girl in her entirety. "A-Ah…Suzui-san, good morn—!"
His throat constricted and his body clenched shakily as his eyes caught something on the girl's face. Suzui's left cheek was purple and swollen, her left eye squinting. His gaze centered entirely the girl's wide eyes and his nails dug once more into his palm.
The light in her brown eyes was dimmed, a glazed over gaze met with his eyes. Suzui took a step back to create some distance between them, head bowed and eyes snapping to the side.
…Please…I just want to play volleyball…I don't want to keep getting beaten on…
"O-Oh…Emiya-san, good morning." Her soft voice made him relaxed, his gaze focused on her lips quirking up shakily. Even as her lips formed a smile, her eyes were still glaze over and avoided his. Her dark brown eyes gazed down at his wet school uniform and her eyebrows shot up. "You're wet! Emiya, didn't you have an umbr—!"
"Who hurt you?"
Suzui took a step back as she looked at him with shaking eyes. Her gaze avoided his once more and she gulp with difficulty into her tight throat.
"W-What…this…? It's nothing…it's from volleyball practices…I don't know if I've told you, but I'm taking the starter position for the volleyball team…" Her body shiver, eyes darting left and right then back at his. She licked her pale lips, bowing her head again. "And Kamoshida-sensei is a former Olympian gold medalist…so of course his teaching will be tough…he just…he just has higher expectations of us…."
He clenched his jaw, eyes narrowing as the girl's brown eyes looked up at him with furrowed brows. "…" He took a step forward, lips parting but the girl shook her head and took one step back.
"Please…Emiya-san…don't do anything…whatever you think is happening it's…" She looked down, bringing her left hand towards her right forearm and rubbing it. Shirou's lips pulled down, chewing his lip with canine tooth he clenched his hands.
"Are you sure Takamaki-san?"
The two teenagers jumped, eyes wide at the loud voice that broke through the school entrance. They turned around and peeking their head from around the corner to see the P.E teacher sauntered through the entrance. Walking beside the man was a blonde girl dressed in the school's uniform and a hoodie, her eyes look at anything but the man. Her shoulders were hunch over, head bowed and she squirmed whenever Kamoshida took a step too close to her.
"A-Ann…" Suzui's voice quivered, the redhead turned and focused his golden brown eyes on the girl behind him. Her teeth were bare, eyes entirely center on the blonde girl as her grip on her forearm tightened leaving flushed marks on her pale flesh. He bit the inside of his cheeks and rotated his head back to where the blonde was.
The blonde, Takamaki, let out a breath escape her and raised her head towards the teacher—though, her eyes didn't meet his dark eyes. "Y-Yeah…I'm sure, while I appreciate you helping get here…you don't have to worry…"
Kamoshida pursed his lips, leaning back on his heels he rubbed his squared-chin with long and rough fingers. He clicked his tongue at the response, lips pulling up scornfully. His eyes wander around to the other curious students murmuring among themselves. Lips pulling up and showing his teeth, he took a step forward with both on his waist. "I understand Takamaki-san, but do remember that the one who went into car quite gladly was you. So please be more considerate of my feelings as well."
Takamaki flinched at the loud voice the man let out from beside her, she bowed her head and narrowed her eyes. Shirou saw her lips moved and the man's grin wrinkled his face as he placed a hand on her shoulder, squeezed and then turned on his heel to leave. The students watched the man leave and then set their narrowed gazes towards the lone girl.
"Hey you saw that? Typical Takamaki, always being the gold digger."
"Seriously, just because she can't get good grades she decides to go after the best teacher in the school."
"What can you expect from a foreigner like her."
Shirou's lips quirked down, eyebrows dropping as the students murmurs filled the area. His gaze wandered towards all the students, seeing them whispered amongst each other conspiracies and rumors about the blonde girl.
'Are they seriously that blind…that they don't notice he was making her uncomfortable? He raised his voice to humiliate her… he knew that this would happen! How can a teacher act like that!?'
"Stop it…" A quivering sob from behind made him flinch. Turning back, he opened mouth but he stopped—and his eyes widened as he took her expression. Suzui's eyes were moist, tears welled up in the corner of her eyes and short sharp breaths escaped from her tightened chest. The color of red caught his eyes and his gaze wander down to her hands. Tightly clenched fists with small beads of blood dripping through her fingers and marring the school floor. "Stop it…she doesn't have anything to do with this…"
"Suzui-san…"
The girl gasped and recoiled away from him, watery eyes looking at him snapping to meet his gaze. Her eyes scrunched up, cheeks turning red, lips pulled back in a grimace. Taking multiple steps away from him, she whirled around. "P-Please…have a good morning…"
He opened his mouth, stretching his left arm towards her but the girl jogged away from him. He watched her go in silence, the girl ripped the glass door that lead to the courtyard opened, before she stepped through it and disappear. Shirou's left hand fell back to his side and his eyes looked down at it. He bit the inside of his cheeks and looked down, heart hammering in his chest.
Something burned deep within him—something so hot and fierce that it brought memories of the first day he had faced Black Mask long ago.
'I have decided…Kamoshida, I'll go for you in the Distorted Marble…'
.
.
.
.
4/11 Monday, Afterschool
The rumor-mongering students could be seen in the corners of the halls, murmuring about the new transfer student, the one with the criminal record, and a student named Sakamoto, a delinquent who was from the same class as him, and how both were extremely late today. As Shirou strolled through the halls, right hand holding onto his school bag, he heard their claims go from the two students in question being late to them being late because of them meeting a gang. He was already reaching the main entrance of the school and he was hearing about how the two students were planning to beat everyone down and sell drugs.
Shirou released air through his nostrils and rolled his eyes, catching sight of Kamoshida. He stopped, watching the man talked to two bandaged gym wearing students, the two teenagers had there heads bowed and nodded to whatever the teacher was saying. Shirou clenched his right hand around the handle of his bag, feeling the strapped rubbed his shoulder as he pulled it down with force.
…Please…I just want to play volleyball…I don't want to keep getting beaten on…I don't want Ann degrading herself for me…
He glared down at himself, his gut feeling heavy as disappointment and shame filled him. He looked back to where the teacher was but found empty space, the man had walked away with the students after he had looked down at himself. His jaw clench and as his eyes glazed over in thought. He felt disturbed, the implications of Suzui's words quite clear.
He clicked his tongue and shook his head, taking long strides to get out of the school building. He looked up at the clear sky with squinting eyes, the fading sun last glares peeking through the buildings. He looked down and blinked as his eyes caught sight of a small and narrow alleyway right in front of the school gate. He marched for it, getting down the steps and entering the small confine space. His golden eyes flickered from left to right, dirty paper, crumple cans, large black bags, puddles of water and trash cans. It was dirty and it looked secluded, he nodded as he sent a look back to the school and made sure no students came into the alley.
"Okay…" He took a step back, pressing his back against the corner of the alleyway as he pulled his bandaged left hand up. He took a deep breath. "Trace…on!" He clenched his now shaking hand, the Distorted Marker glowing through the bandages. He bared his teeth, the back of his hand feeling as if he was touching a hot stove. He let out a breath and closed his eyes. "Remember…just like when they made you enter dad's world…you need a name, a place and distortion."
…Emiya Kiritsugu…
…Emiya Residence…
…Utopia…
When he had entered his dad's distorted world, he felt awful. Even if he was being forced to do so by the mage's—all in the pursuit of knowledge and experimentation. He felt as if he was unjustly learning things from his dad that weren't earn.
His past.
His motives
His desires.
And his feelings.
It wasn't right to find all of that in such a manner. It felt as if he was violating the privacy and thoughts of someone. It irked him greatly to find so much of his father's nature like that. But above all else, he just felt robbed of the chance of discovering his father's secret by himself.
He wanted to earn it, to have earned that trust and feel closer to the man who took him when there was nothing for him in the world. He wanted to earn that knowledge for the man who gave him a family.
…the mage's around him looked around, probing and experimenting in the Distorted Marble of his father.
A war torn world with the Emiya Residence being its throne.
The Phantasmal Shades, all dressed as soldier stood stock still—never once attacking, nor speaking or even moving the moment they stepped into their view.
The mage's found them fascinating—
But what made him feel ashamed was seeing his father's inner self.
A tired man, dressed in grey armor around his legs and arms, a black tight bodysuit and red opened skirt and hood that draped over his shoulders. The Shade's outfit was similar to his own and for once, Shirou smiled crookedly at the similar outfit his dad wore.
His dad stood still, hands clenched beside his thighs and glaring through his red hood. His face was unreadable due to the bandages over his face, only his glowing yellow eyes showed his agitation. He was the only defense for the Emiya Residence, not allowing for anyone to step inside the empty house.
The man said nothing to the mages, and just stared with narrowed yellow eyes. His fingers twitching when they got to close.
But when his father looked at him, his yellow eyes softened and he pulled the bandaged mask off his lower face.
"Shirou…the Mage's Association will ask of you things that you won't like, so this is the best advice I can give to you…
Silence your heart.
I understand that things are rough for you now, and they will only get worse. But remember for what you're fighting for, for your mother, for Sella, for Leysritt…
For Illya.
But remember that to fight for yourself…and when they ask of you too much, silence your heart so that it won't be destroyed…
So that the Shirou who belongs to this house can return to it the day I save you…"
Shirou opened his eyes, a smile tugging at this lips. His father's Shade had told him that and he had believed.
…you won't be save…
The smile turned upside down, remembering the cynical and inhuman mage's who had threatened his family. The ones who had told him he had no future as a human being.
…if you disobey me once more…the Association will be more than willing to carry out their promise…
He understood the consequences.
…Please…I just want to play volleyball…I don't want to keep getting beaten on…I don't want Ann degrading herself for me…
He straightened up, his eyes narrowing as he glared at his left bandaged hand. How could he possibly ignore such cry for help?
'Because you're afr—!'
He clenched his left fist tightly pain shooting through the back of his hand and his palm as he dug his nails into it.
"Suguru Kamoshida…" The Marker burned bright as the words were a matched with a distortion. His through rumbled as he hummed, raising an eyebrow. "…what could be the place? A gym?"
The burning in his hand dimmed. His eyebrows tugged down and he bit his lip. His gaze snapped away from his hand as his eyes trembled and his lips parted with a quiet "Wait." He turned his head towards the school building and he pursed his bruised lip.
"Shujin Academy…? Tsk!" A hiss escaped his mouth, right hand quickly grabbing his left wrist as he noticed the burning had intensified. He let out a breath and nodded, he scratched his right cheek and closed his eyes. "And all that's left is the distortion…but what could it be? Hrm…Olympics?"
The burning dimmed.
"…a gym?"
Nothing.
"A fight club?"
The burning remained dim.
"Hrm…what is it? Cou—"
His phone rang in his pocket, making him flinch and looked up. Blinking he reached with his right hand towards his school pants right pocket and pulled his phone out. His eyes went wide as he saw the caller id.
"Forte-san…?" Shirou gritted his teeth, hand tightening around his phone. He let out a shaky breath go from his chest right out of his mouth and tapped the button to accept the call. He placed the phone on his right ear, his nose wrinkling. "Forte-sa—I mean Miss Fort—!"
"Return to the apartment at once, Emiya. We will be discussing drill strategies for the next time we go to the Distorted Labyrinth. I expect you to arrive at a reasonable time."
"O-Oh yeah! I'll be the—!" The phone call was hanged up before he could finish saying anything. He looked down at the phone with gritted teeth. His hold over the phone clenching shakily. The phone groan under his hold and the screen cracked slightly. The small 'Creak' noise made him recoiled and softened his hold on the smartphone. He looked at the cracked screen and exhale through his nostril as he hunch over. His gaze felt heavy and dark. "I better get back…"
He looked back to the school with narrowed eyes. He wanted to stay and continue with his mission to do something about Kamoshida—
… But remember for what you're fighting for, for your mother, for Sella, for Leysritt. For Illya…
"Damn it…I can't…I can't just not help Suzui…but…"
Shirou bowed his head, shook it and then turned around and walked in the direction of the train station silently.
.
.
.
.
4/12 Tuesday, Afterschool
Shirou walked through the familiars halls of the school to get out of it. His arms hung, swaying with each slow and measure step he took. His ears picked up the usual chatter of the rumor-milling students. Hold up in small groups across the halls and murmuring about the new transfer student and Sakamoto. He shook his head, his legs taking long strides as he lips tugged into a grimace.
His mind was simply a jumble mess of worries and cold-hard logic. His thoughts went from concern to his family, to thinking new ways to implement his powers at the behest of Forte after what had happened in the Labyrinth. Accompanying those thoughts were Suzui and the Kamoshida situation. His throat rumble as a guttural sound vibrated the soft inner flesh. He narrowed his eyes into slits as memories of yesterday's conversation with Forte resurface.
Bowing his head, his feet slammed down on the floor with each step. Students near him stopped muttering as they watched him march away. He turned the corner and felt a body slam into his. Taking a couple of step back, he brought his bandaged hand up to his stinging nose and grasped it.
"Oh! Sorry, my bad." His lips tugged up into an awkward smile as he let go of his nose. He blinked as a frizzy hair, glasses wearing student was shaking his head and looked up at him.
"Don't worry I should've paid more attention where I was going." The frizzy hair student words were quiet, he bowed his head with his hands inside his pockets and hunched over in order not to meet his gaze. Shirou raised an eyebrow at the action, he moved to say something.
"Hey did you see that? The new student bump into the criminal transfer student." Someone whispered loudly.
"Oh my god, is the delinquent transfer student going to hurt him."
Shirou narrowed his eyes as he look at two male students pointing and whispering to each other loudly. He let his gaze return back to the now revealed infamous transfer student. The frizzy hair young man let out a tired breath as he locked eyes with him and turned away.
"Sorry for bumping into you." The transfer student strolled towards main entrance of the school to leave, hunched over.
Shirou watched him walk away, blinking several times as his gut churned and made him scratched his cheek. He pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes towards the frizzy hair student, but relaxed and let air escape his nostril. He didn't understand the frizzy hair student situation nor did he know how much the rumor-mongering students were exaggerating when they spoke of him—but the glasses wearing student seemed like a good person to him.
So it didn't feel right to let his fellow transfer student walk away in a sour mood.
"Hey!" The transfer student right at the doors of the entrance and turned towards him with a raised eyebrow and a narrowed gaze. Shirou saw this and let his lips quirked up, offering a smile. He gestured towards the rumoring students with his bandaged left hand. "Don't let them get to you."
The transfer student blinked, his lips parting a little when he heard Shirou's words. His lips quirked, a smile forming as he turned around. He took out his right hand out of his pocket and waved at him. "Don't worry, they don't."
Shirou watched him walked away with a straighter back and reached the school gates, where he was stopped by a blonde young man. Shirou blinked 'Sakamoto?', but his eyes looked away from the two when he saw a familiar figure from the corner of his eyes. Turning to the left, he saw Suzui standing by the administrative office. The girl eyes glazed over, slowly taking a stack of paper and putting them in her schoolbag.
He blinked as he took a couple steps towards the girl, stopping just a meter away from her .
"Suzui-san."
The girl jumped, her fingers trembling as four papers fully written slipped from her hand and floated down to the floor. She whirled around, hair whipping back as her eyes widen when she saw his face. A 'thud' noise went off when her back collided with the front desk of the administration desk. "E-Emiya-san…!? I'm sorry…you startled me…"
"It's not your fault, I was the one who came from out of nowhere." Shirou closed his eyes as his lips pulled back into grimace. He shook his head and hurriedly got to his knees, moving both hands to grasp the fallen papers and gathering them. He stood back up, looking at the girl with a small smile and handed the papers back. The girl looked at the papers with pursed lips and reached out with her right hand. Red and purple bruised fingers took a hold of them, snapping her hand back and hiding it behind her bag. She looked away from him, focusing on the floor underneath them. Shirou bit into his lips, staring at the girl with peering eyes. His mouth opened, but he stopped when the girl snapped her eyes back at him. Her shoulder tensed and shaky, she shook her head.
"Don't do anything about Kamoshida, Emiya-san…"
Shirou bit down on the inside of his cheeks, his eyes wide and recoiling slightly. "Am I that transparent…?"
Suzui bowed her head, she then shook her head. She looked up at him, her brown eyes steadying and her shoulders pulling back as they relaxed. "You just seemed like the type of person…who would go out of his way to do something like that…"
"Because it isn't wrong to help someone in need."
The girl looked at with wide eyes and bit even harder into her lip. She closed her eyes, once more her shoulder tensed up and began to shake. "I…we don't know each other at all…but that earnest response isn't all that surprising coming from someone like you…"
"Because there's nothing…" Shirou mouth remained opened as he blinked and looked down at the floor. Memories of his father's words and his own desires to protect his family filtered into his mind. He understood the consequences of this selfless, and yet selfish act he wanted to commit.
It wasn't wrong to help someone in need.
CRASH!
The two jumped, whipping their heads towards the loud noise. Their eyes widened when they saw through the front door of the school, a curly hair girl dressed in the school gym's cloth. Her hands on her mouth as right on her feet were bags of gardening and the cart that was used to carry them flipped over to its side by the steps.
Shirou and Suzui looked at one another, blinking and then letting a small smile appear on their lips.
.
.
.
.
4/12 Afternoon
"Thank you so much! Emiya-kun! Shiho-chan!"Curly reddish brown hair bounce as the girl, Haru Okumura, smiled with a gardening bag in her hands. The older girl held the bag by her waist, her arms straining as she moved towards a where a certain dozens fertilized filled pots were placed. She knelt before them, smile still in place as she dug her finger into the fertilizer. Shirou and Suzui moved shakily, arms straining and trembling as they carried the heavy bag.
"No worries Haru-sempai…" Suzui took a deep breath as she took the final three steps and reached the older girl, releasing the bag beside Okumura's. She exhaled loudly, rubbing her right forearm over her sweaty forehead. Shirou placed his own bag down on the opposite end of Suzui's. He shook his arms, soothing his aching bones and used his thumbs to cracked his fingers one by one. He blinked as he stared at the bag, then directed his gaze towards the eldest girl and gestured towards the plants.
"You need anything else Okumura-sempai?"
"Hmm, well I know it would be too much to ask…but…you think you can help me plant this seeds?" Okumura motioned towards the pot and gardening tools. "I know it's asking too much…but I will be needed elsewhere in an hour or so…"
"I can stay and help you for a bit." Shirou smiled as he took off his black school blazer. Placing the cloth over his shoulder, he walked towards the cart where the bags had been and left it hanging by the handle. 'As long as Forte-san doesn't go off on me like she did yesterday with her drills…the more time I spent away from that hardass the better…'
"I'll help out too Haru-sempai." Suzui smiled, her eyes drooping towards the pot. "Practices today should be starting in about an hour, so I have time."
"Oh! Because of the Volleyball Rally tomorrow, right?" Okumura giggled, shoulder shaking as she tilted her head. She stopped waving her left hand "Sorry, sorry" and moved her other hand to take the seeds. Her remark made Shirou narrowed his eyes and tilt his head, eyebrows raising.
"Volleyball Rally?"
Suzui turned towards him with wide eyes and a slightly agape mouth. "You weren't aware of it? The school is hosting a Volleyball Rally for the team participant in the volleyball tournament that is starting next month."
"I've heard Kamoshida-sensei will be participating…" Okumura was still smiling as her eyes narrowed and took a pot with her slender fingers. Shirou knelt down beside the girls and took some of the seeds as well, but his eyes were somewhat glazed over as he squinted his eyes.
'Kamoshida…this may be my chance to catch some information regarding the man…!'
The three began gardening in silence with only Okumura's voice filling the small area as she directed them on how to handle gardening. As time began to pass, Shirou found the act of gardening to be somewhat relaxing—it kept his hands busy and his mind for once stopped whirling around in worry. His eyes narrowed as from the corner of his eyes he caught sight of a much relaxed Suzui. The sight of her eyes not being glazed over and the smile on her face made him imitate her. His eyes caught sight of her bruised fingers, then they snapped towards the fading one in her cheek and the smile dropped down into a frown.
'I'm sorry Suzui-san…but I need to know about the situation…'
"So about the Volleyball Rally…uh, how's it going to be presented?"
Suzui stopped planting her seeds, her eyes looking at him through the corner of her eyes with a narrowed glanced. She pursed her lips and then looked away when his eyes focused on her. "The students will be playing volleyball in the gymnasium tomorrow…against Kamoshida and a group of his colleagues…"
His eyes went wide and his fingers clogged on the fertilized pot, he sat up straight. "Isn't that unfair!?"
"Yes it is." Okumura quiet voice made the two underclassmen twist their heads in her direction. Both blinking and leaning back as she planted a pot down on the dug in ground and pressed down with force, cracking the pot slightly. "A rally should be about the entire student body experiencing and supporting the volleyball team that will be competing…not about a single teacher showboating."
Suzui raised her hands up to her chest, grasping them with a sagging gaze towards the girl. "Okumura-sempai…"
The older girl reached out for a towel placed on top of the now empty gardening bags. Wiping her hands off the dirt, she let her gaze focus on the girl and her eyes sharpened into slits. "It's the truth…a teacher who does something so arrogant, cannot possibly be what he is presenting himself as."
'She's aware…then does that mean others know!?' Shirou looked at the curly hair girl with wide eyes. '…but then why hasn't anything been done about this!?"
Okumura continued as she faced her body towards Suzui, her expression softening as small smile tugged at her lips. "You don't have to be afraid to tell others how you feel…I was once in your shoes, a long time ago. So please, Shiho-chan, rely in your sempai if you need help!"
Suzui looked at the older girl with her eyes drooping. Biting her lip and clenching her hands, she quickly bowed her head letting her dark hair hide her face. Shirou looked at the dark hair girl with his lips quirked down, he then focused his gaze towards the older girl. Okumura looked at the hunched over girl with a small smile and soft eyes.
"I think we're done he—!"
"Ah, so this is where you have been, Haru." Shirou and Okumura turned towards the sound of the voice. By the main entrance of the school, Niijima stood on the steps with her arms crossed and her reddish eyes narrowed. The council student pulled her arms off her chest and waved her phone with her right hand. "I've been calling you, you know?"
Okumura gasped, cheeks coloring red as she reached out for her phone in her tracksuit pocket and saw the missed calls and messages. "Oh! I'm so sorry Mako-chan, I was kind of distracted."
The curly hair bounced as she giggled, moving to clean up all the gardening material. Niijima sighed and shook her head.
"Whatever the case Haru, you need to be more attentive. We have an appointment after all...you know how he gets when we're late." The council student president turned towards Shirou and her eyes widened a little. "And you…this is the second time I'm seeing you help someone…you are quite altruistic, aren't you?"
Shirou face flushed at that, he opened his mouth to respond, but Okumura interrupted him as she smiled at her. "Oh leave him alone, Mako-chan! He's been a great help!"
"I can see that…" Niijima let out a breath escaped her lips and she pocketed her phone. "I'm sorry if I seem to be too pushy…it's just that it has been a busy week…"
"I understand." Shirou waved off her concern as he, Okumura and a silent Suzui finished cleaning up. A few minutes later Okumura had the cart with the empty gardening bags placed on it, she moved alongside Niijima. She turned around and waved at them, though her eyes were focused entirely on Suzui.
"Goodbye, Emiya-kun, Shiho-chan!" With that the two girls into the school's main entrance. This left Shirou and Suzui standing by the school steps alone. The two stood there in silence. Shirou turned towards Suzui, and saw her chewing on her lip with her eyes looking away from him. He eyed her as she shook, opening her mouth then closing it. He stood there and waited for her to speak.
Minutes ticked by, and the sky started to lose its orange tint—and yet both students didn't move.
"Ann…Ann is hurting, you know…"
"Hm?" He turned towards the other girl and saw her fist clenched tightly and shaking.
"Ann is suffering for me…she thinks I haven't noticed…but I…"
Shirou's eyes widened, biting the inside of his cheeks.
…Stop it…she doesn't have anything to do with this…
"Suzui-san…"
"Helping people isn't wrong…right…?" She looked up at him with glaze over eyes, her lips spread into a shaky smile. "Of course it isn't…helping someone in need…it makes you feel nice, it is nice. So it's obvious…that I want to help her…I want to relieve her of all the humiliation and pain she is going through…I want to do the same with everyone else in the volleyball team too. But…but…"
"Suzui-san…" He took a step towards her his left hand reaching out for her once again. She looked at the offered hand, then shakes her head and turned around.
"How can I help any of them…when I can't even help myself…?"
Shirou looked at her with wrinkled brows, her words making him shiver and take a step back. He clenched his hand tightly to get rid of the sensation. "You can start, by not being afraid."
"Hypocrite."
He recoiled as if struck by the words coming from within. They had cut much deeper than what he thought possible. His offered left hand went for his chest, his heart hammering against his ribcage for release. The girl didn't noticed his discomfort, even as she turned towards him with a resigned smile.
"Saying not to be afraid is easy…but it's so hard not being afraid when faced with impossible odds Emiya-san."
Shirou stopped and watched her go in silence.
She walked away from him—returning back to her living hell.
He looked down with narrowed eyes.
… Mere goodness can achieve little against the power of nature…
"D-Damn it…"
Her words had hit far too close to home. Far to close.
… But remember for what you're fighting for, for your mother, for Sella, for Leysritt. For Illya…
He had duty to fulfill, he understood this perfectly.
So why did her fear resonated so deeply with him…!?
'Because you're afr—!'
No.
'Because you're afraid that they—!'
No!
He had a duty to fulfill.
He had to remain focus.
He couldn't falter now.
He had to keep his family save, no matter what. It didn't matter if his dignity was dragged through the floor. It didn't matter if he was going to be bound and shackled forever.
As long as his dad, his mom, his two silly maids and Illya could smile for another day.
He would be satisfied.
As long as Illya could look forward to a brighter future then it didn't matter what happen to him.
"What…if it isn't enough…?"
And for the first time since he had been given this offer, he felt himself hesitate.
Because if the Mage's Association didn't intend on keeping their words, what could he do to stop them…?
Beta: Crossovernaru
Author's Note
Hello there. This is an early release because I'm still trying to find a good day for when to post a new chapter. So that's why the chapter is coming out today.
As for the chapter, this one is dealing with the fallout of the last chapter in a more personal matter for Shirou. And we get to see how Shirou is taking everything that has been happening to him. Also, I'm trying out a new writing technique that finally clicked on my brain on how to do. So excuse me if there are any grammatical errors, I'll be looking into them at a later date.
Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter. Until next time, adios!